Placing Young Journalists in Delaware Newsrooms

LJI is working to increase coverage of underrepresented communities in Delaware and build a pipeline of aspiring local journalists, particularly those who are passionate about and experienced with BIPOC (Black, indigenous and people of color) and other underrepresented communities.

The DCF Journalism Internship Program is a partnership of the Local Journalism Initiative, the Delaware Community Foundation and the Maryland Delaware DC Press Association. Launched in the summer of 2021 with a grant from the DCF’s COVID-19 Strategic Response Fund, the internship program was Delaware’s first statewide news collaborative initiative.

Deep community coverage on vital issues

Since 2021, eight interns have reported dozens of stories that appeared in seven Delaware media outlets. They’ve covered important issues to underrepresented communities, such as initiatives to support minority-owned businesses; programs to help immigrants learn English; an analysis of Latino healthcare needs; and stories about transgender Delawareans. The interns also reported and wrote important stories on topics such as summer school, hiring challenges, COVID vaccinations, high school sports, and business recovery.

The interns also received significant support from experienced journalists to get their careers started, with training and coaching to set them on the right path. Training sessions included covering the Black and Latino communities, minimizing implicit bias, effective interviewing and newsroom culture.

Already, several of our intern alumni have gone on to full-time professional careers as local journalists in Delaware and the region.